Paris Mayor launches £426m Euro PB programme

In autumn 2014, a democratic innovation is taking place: the participatory budget for Paris. Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, has committed that 5% of the investment budget of the City (representing €426 million between 2014 and 2020) will be decided by Parisians through a form of online and paper ballot Participatory Budgeting. In many ways it echoes processes separately being used in New York.

Photo: Anne Hildalgo, Mayor of Paris, taken from her website article, in which she is interviewed about her Plans for PB in Paris

The participatory budget(PB) will consist of two parts: a round devoted to projects in Paris and another for projects located in the boroughs. During the Parisian round, a first vote for which is in September 2014, Parisians will be able to choose between several projects proposed by the Paris administration, such as two architectural ‘greenwalls’ or renovation of bandstands and public toilets in parks and gardens.

For one week, from 24 September to 1 October 2014, Parisians will be asked to prioritize projects they consider priorities for Paris. Voting will be online through a dedicated website. Polls will also be installed at the Town Halls and the boroughs for a paper ballot. Projects that receive the most votes will be funded ​​in 2015.

Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris says "This is a new tool for citizen participation for all Parisians to propose and choose the projects that will make the Paris of tomorrow. They will have the opportunity to be full participants in civic life. I see a major democratic innovation."